Family-Based Green Card Attorneys in Middletown, PA
A Family Preference Green Card permits specified family members of United States citizens and permanent residents to gain permanent residency in Middletown, PA and the rest of the U.S. For U.S. citizens, family members that can be brought to the U.S. with this green card include minor and adult children, spouses and siblings (if the citizen is 21 years or older). For those who are lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include unmarried children and spouses.
Family preference green cards do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are designated for a U.S. citizen's parents, spouses, and minor children. A family green card attorney near you in Middletown, PA can assist your family in determining the correct type of green card category, helping you reunite with your family and create or advance your lives together in the U.S.
How Do Family-Based Green Cards Work in Middletown, PA?
To start, the family member in Middletown, PA who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident needs to file Form I-130, also called the Petition for Alien Relative. This form proves the family relationship necessary for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member outside the United States must wait for visas to become accessible dependent on the date of submission and the annual visa limits that Congress authorized. If the applicant is already in the U.S. legally, they can petition for a status adjustment by filing forms including I-485.
Each category of eligible relative is given preference classification, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. For example, First Preference, or F1, is for over 21-year-old, unmarried children of U.S. citizens. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Many Middletown, PA applicants end up waiting for years and, in some cases, decades for family-sponsored green cards to become available.
Why Hire a Family-Based Immigration Attorney in Middletown, PA?
Going through the immigration process is time-consuming and requires significant efforts and particular know-how. The processing times for family-based petitions are not made available by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which can change considerably depending on the country you’re immigrating from and your designated preference category. However, some F4 (sibling) visa applicants have reported waits of more than fifteen years. With this kind of potential wait, it's critical that you file as soon as you can and with complete accuracy. Your Middletown, PA family immigration lawyer can help you present the requisite documents and ensure that you file it correctly for the proper visa type.
An immigration attorney in Middletown, PA can assist you with understanding constantly changing laws and regulations and understand complicated documents. They understand the tight application timeline and can coach you or your family members prior to visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can shorten potential delays, experience a smoother application, and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Middletown, PA: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member is applying for a family preference green card, choose Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Middletown, PA. Our founder relocated to the United States as an immigrant, and a large number of our team members are also immigrants or have close family who are immigrants. Our multilingual, multicultural team of attorneys can guide your family through the immigration procedures and benefit from some of the immigration industry's highest approval rates.* We're eager to assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure similar outcomes.